If you have just been diagnosed....

I got a copy of my biopsy report. I am trying to figure out what all of this means.
Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, Estimated Histologic Grade 1
Not sure what this grade 1 means.

Duct Carcinoma in Situ, Nuclear Grade 2, associated with microcalifications.

Pathologist's Comments
The invasive componenet is at least 6mm. Receptor studies will be reporte in an addendem.
This 6 mm doesn't sound good.
Can anyone comment on any of this ?
thanks

Hello all... I am sitting here so scared and upset. I found out yesterday from mammogram, ultra sound, and exam that there is 80 percent sure my lump is cancer. I have 2 lumps actually close together ... 2.4 cm and .6mm right beside the nipple. My underside of breast is red so I am afraid it might be inflammatory breast cancer... I do know the radiologist said there was a node found so I am so afraid it is aggressive. They took a core biopsy and I won't have those results until Thursday. I haven't told my kids yet. They are grown children with families. My husband and I are currently living in England and my family is in the states. My hubby retires in a couple years so I was sure hoping I would be ok until I got back to Tn. I don't think as I don't have insurance back home I could go there for treatment?? I tried to get blue cross blue shield couple years back but because I had been diagnosed psoriatic arthritis and had past basal cell skin cancers they wouldnt insure me so I thought I will wait until I get home to pursue it farther. I can have treatment here in England, but I would rather be home with my family.

Could any other breast cancers make your breast red? They didn't tell me alot because they are waiting for the core biopsy results. I know reading stuff online has been frightening to me. Maybe I should wait to research after I know more.
thanks for listening

Molly,
Iodine is right...try not to scare yourself by doing research until you know YOUR specifics...I did that and scared the living daylights out of myself....

Also she is right about your treatment in the UK...it is really hard to get insurance in the USA if you have a pre-existing condition and now that you have BC results Im not sure you would be able to get insurance...I know I also would want to be home with my family too....Im soooo sorry you have to do it this way ....

I have never stopped in at this thread before because I think it is more informational for new ladies than a place to ask questions...Im not sure others stop here either....I think if you start another thread with your questions you will get better response from ladies in your situation...

Hugs
Jule

Hi Marie0224,
I was diagnosed on Feb 21st, had a double (bi) mastectomy on March 21st and started my chemo on May 4th.
By the way, I had my last chemo treatment today.
Good luck girl. You can do it.
Traci

I was just diagnosed Wednesday, August 22, 2007. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma - appt with Oncologist on Monday and an MRI on Wednesday. I can't believe that this is happening to me. I have 3 kids, youngest is only 9 months and a wonderful husband...this STINKS!!!!

I was diagnosed last week, IDC grade 1. Although optimistic, I am as scared as the rest of you all. I am an ICU nurse and have tons of support, but it's wonderful to see a discussion forum like this one for the "quiet times" when I really can't bear to take another phone call answer any more questions! I'm sure you all can relate. Anyway, I look forward to chatting with you all....survivors from day one!

Carol

I am waiting to start chemo next week. I am terrified!I've been reading different posts here for about a week and decided to get online. I am scheduled to have a porta cath in the morning of the 9/6 and then first chemo of A/C later that afternoon. I've done a lot of research which has helped but also terrifies me. I don't have a choice of switching doctos but after reading some of the posts I feel that my "team" is letting me down. Feeling really insecure.
I am single, live alone and HAVE to work through all the tx.

I was diagnoised Aug. 30 and will have a lumpectomy Sept.24th 4th, of course I`m a little scared.

You who have had the lumpectomy, how long before you were able to get back to doing and how did you feel afterwards?

I`m concerned because I take care of my husband who was paralyzed by a stroke 7 yrs ago and I`m his sole caregiver, we will have help come in to care for him a few days after my surgery but am worried I may not feel up to par by than.

Clessie,

I had my first lumpectomy on August 17.  Only a lumpectomy.  My incision is from about 11:30-8:30 (if you see 12:00 as the top of your breast) on my left breast (I am right handed).  I carried my breast around for about 3 days as gravity was a killer.  Mostly I felt best when sitting with a pillow propping my breast up and with ice balanced on it (I swear by the ice!).  I could have gone to a desk job without too much trouble on Day 3 after surgery.  I was in the gym (I'm a bit of a gym rat, although my body doesn't show it!) for a light workout on Day 5.  On Day 6 I was moving my kid into her college dorm room.  Only took Tylenol 3 with codeine for the first three nights--no painkillers at all during the day.

Upshot?  Two days down.  It really wasn't too bad.

(I'll be asking the same type of question real soon about having a sentinel node biopsy as I have that and my 2nd lumpectomy scheduled for Monday.  The fun just doesn't end.)

Good question, Clessie.  May I add to it?

I, too, am having lumpectomy (2nd one) and SNB (My surgery is this coming Monday.  Yikes!).  Since I've had one lumpectomy already, I feel fairly confident that I know what I'm in for on that score, but the SNB is going to be a new experience.  I've heard that I should expect limited mobility in my left arm after the SNB.  Can anyone share from their experience how limited and for how long?  And does one require physical therapy afterward, or will strength and mobility return on it's own?

So many questions, but I know I feel much better when I have some kind of understanding of what's ahead.

Thanks.

sweetheart,

Take a deep breath. You will be ok. Most of us woek through our tx. I was dxed in June 05 with Stage IIIC, and had to relocate to the states for tx, so I was alone.

Anyway, This is the time for you to take care of yourslef. Ask your dtr or a good friend to come with you to take notes, beacuse you will probably be abit foggy ( we all are when recently dxed )

Come here often for support and correct information. This board kept me sane when I was having my chemo & rads.

There ae no stupid or insignificant questions. and out of all of us you will findthe answer and be reassured.

Remmember, there are so many of us out here and the txs today are so much better.

I graduated from nursing school in 1979 and did oncology so beleive me!

Anyhow, I am fine now and you wil be too.

If you get really anxiuos or depressed do not be afraid to get on some Rx at this time.

God Bless,

Hi all,

I was just diagnosed Thursday night with DCIS.  Got the call from my Gyn. after getting home from work with the results of a stereotactic bio I had done.  Im sure you can imaging whats going thru my mind.  Its a bit overwhelming to say the least.  I posted in a different area of this board and some kind people said that thats the one to have if you have to have it at all.  I see a surgeon on Wed, 1st appointment.  Its nerve-wrecking, and I am high anxiety anyway.  If I had a lumpectomy (scared of Hospitals-only had my tonsills out prior), and radiation I think I can handle it.  Dont want to take pills for 5 years-afraid of side effects.  It took me awhile to take BP medication which I do feel fine and dont feel tired from. 

Dr said something about being high nuclear grade and comedal?  Its at the 3:00 portion of my L. Breast.  I am big being a 38D. 

I know, I know, TMI!!!  I just need to spill my little heart out.  I have friends who have had DCIS.  One is 45 now and she had rad.  The other is same age as me (51) and she got it in both breasts each one separate time.  Of course I worry about re-occurence odds cause my mind works over-time, and as silly as this sounds, I worry about touching my left breast too much in that I dont want to press too hard to spread it.  Am I a basket case or what?

I sure have been taking walking up again these past days.  Been doing my 2.5 miles for 3 days.  Nothing like something like this to kick you in the you know where to get moving, and I want to get more active like joining a Y and personal trainer program. 

I know I wont know much till Wed, but any idea on how long I might be laid up?  This is driving me nuts, and maybe I needed a mild(?) wake-up call since I tend to lay low and hibernate.

Hi,

I've just been diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma Incantu (not sure if I spelled that right). My Surgeon says it's not-invasive, thank God. He also says it's early and totally curable. The secondary problem is that I have 2 seperate lumps and some "cloudy" tissue in between. They only biopsied the largest lump and I am waiting to have a second biopsy on the other.

My surgeon told me that the lumps are 7mm apart and if the second lump comes back malignant, he recommends a mastectomy. Does this sound right?? He said with just a lumpectomy and radiation, there's a 30% chance of the cancer coming back. What do I do???

Thanks

Vicky 

Hello sweet sisters, yep, you are my sisters now! You will get alot of advice, 1st hand experience, comfort and understanding here. I was diagnosed with IDC in 2005. I got through it with the help of my beautiful sisters. I also highly recommend www.nosurrenderbreastcancerhelp.com . Unbelievable help and support!

Deese

I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I am still trying to think through everything I have been told. It seems that there are so many questions I want to ask. My doctor told me that I will have sugery and then have radiation for 6 weeks. I am trying to deal with all of this. Any comments